Life preserver inflating apparatus



April 1954 w. H. SEEMANN, JR 2,675,143

LIFE PRESERVER INFLATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2.

Fig. 8.

Fig. /0

44 William H. Seemann, Jr. 34 26 INVENTOR. 3'032 BY eon Wavy 3m Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFE PRESERVER INFLATING APPARATUS William H. Seemann, In, New Orleans, La.

Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,537

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in pressure releasing valves and more particularly to a releasing valve which is adapted to be employed for inflating life preservers and like inflatable apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to pro-- vide a pressure releasing valve for association with a life preserver or the like and wherein the carbon dioxide cartridge is adapted to be punctured by upward movement of a firing pin re leased upon contact with the water.

A further object of the present invention re sides in the provision of a novel means for guiding the firing pin for engagement with the gas cartridge with spring means normally urging the firing pin towards the cartridge and soluble pill means normally retaining the firing pin in retracted position until contact with water whereupon the pill will become dissolved and release the firing pin for puncturingthecartridge.

Still another object of th present invention 1 resides in the provision of a novel housing for the gas cartridge and firing pin with soluble pill, wherein the housing is formed with a downwardly extending tubular casing constituting a protective shield for the firing pin guide and whereby the water will be maintained in contact with the soluble pill when the apparatus is submerged and whereby the soluble pill will not become dislodged by striking against an object.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow. The best forms in which I have contemplated applying my invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a lif preserver with the inflating apparatus associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the life preserver apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the inflating apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a view of a portion of Figure 3 and showing the soluble pill maintaining the firing pin in retracted position against the urgings of the sprin Figure 5 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially along the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 2; v

Figure 7 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 'l'! of Figur 3;

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of the firing pin guide and firing pin with the soluble pill maintaining the firing pin in retracted position;

Figure 9 is a vertical detail sectional View of a modified form of firing pin guide; and

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view showing the details of the check valve associated with the inlet line to th life preserver apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral l0 designates generally the life preserver apparatus with which the pressure releasing apparatus of the present invention is employed, the numeral l2 designates generally the check valv means for admitting pressure to the inflatable life preserver apparatus while pre venting return of the gas through the outlet, and the numeral l4 designates generally the pressure releasing apparatus of thepresent invention.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the life preserver apparatus [0 is comprised of a pair of tubular sections it and I8 which are adapted to be positioned over the shoulders of a person with their lower ends secured to the belt 2!) by means of the snaps 22 and 24. Upper intermediate portions of the tubular elements It and it are joined by the conduit 26 which provides communication therebetween.

Looking now at Figures 1 and 10, it will be that a check valve is provided on the central p tion of the conduit 26 and has the inlet conduit 28 engaged thereon. The check valve ii is com prised of a check valve housing 3% which is o tubular construction and has an end flange engaged within an opening 34 of the conduit in, the opposite end of the check valve housing having an inwardly extending lip til provi. a valve seat. Transversely xtending through check valve housing 30 is a pin Sill upon winch a spring 40 is seated for normally urging the ball valve 42 into engagement with the valve seat The inlet conduit 28 is engaged over the check valve housing 30 and is retained thereon by means of th retaining ring it.

The pressure releasing means i l of the present invention will now be described. As seen in Figure 1, the apparatus is secured to the belt is by means of the angulated attaching bracket Figure 3' shows the pressure releasing means as comprising an elongated hollow casing to which the angulated bracket 46 is integrally se- 3 the casing 48 and has its reduced end portion 58 received in the opening 68 at the lower end of the casing 48. The casing 48 is also formed with a laterally extending boss 62 formed with a bore 64 therein for communication with the nipple 66 to which the inlet conduit 28 is attached by means of the retaining ring 68.

The casing 48 has a downwardly extending internally and externally threaded lip I8 surrounding the bore 68 and an outer protective shield 12 integrally formed therewith and. downwardly extending for surrounding the annular lip 18. r v

A tubular guide I4 has its upper end threadably engaged within the threaded bore I6 of the lip I8 and is formed with a firstannular shoulder I8 in its upper end, a second annular shoulder 88 intermediate its ends and a lower annular shoulder 82 formed at its lower end. A firing pin 84 is reciprocably received within the guide I4 and is formed adjacentits upper end with a piston-like weight 86 which is slidably engaged with the inner walls of the guide I4. The weight 86 is engagable with the shoulder I8 for limiting the upward movement of the firing pin and pointed end 88 thereof. The lower end of the firing pin extends through the opening 88 in the annular shoulder 88 and a coil spring 92 surrounds the firing pin 84 and has its upper end engaged against the weight 86 while the lower end thereof is engaged on the annular shoulder 88 for normally urging the firing pin upwardly. The weight 86 applies sufficient inertia to the firing pin 84 when actuated by the spring 82 to puncture the cartridge 56.

As seen best in Figure 4, when the firing pin 84 is in its retracted position, the lower end thereof, formed with the angulated portion 94 and laterally extending rod 96, has a soluble pill 88 held thereby for engagement with the annular shoulder 82. It will thus be seen that the firing pin cannot be released for upward movement until the pill 98 becomes dissolved to permit movement of the firing pin end portions 94 and 88 to move through the openings in the guide I4.

In the form shown in Figure 4, the firing pin 84' is threadably engaged with the firing pin weight 86.

In the form shown in Figure 9, the firing pin guide I4 is formed of a first portion I88 and a second portion I82 threadably secured thereto at I84. The lower ends of each of the first and second portions I88 and I82 are formed with annular lips I86 and I88, the annular lip I86 providing an abutment for the coil spring 92 while the annular lip I84 provides a retaining lip for the soluble pill 98.

A tubular protective shield II8v is threadably engaged on the externally threaded portion II of the lip I8 and has openings II2 formed therein adjacent its upper end. It will thus be seen.

that as the releasing apparatus contacts the water, fluid will flow through the protective shield H8 for contact with the soluble pill 98 and theair at the upper end of the protective shield II8 will be permitted to escape through the openings II2.

As seen in Figure 8, the firing pin guide I4 has a longitudinally extending open ended slot I formed therein whereby the lower end portions 94 and 96 of the firing pin 84 may be vertically slidable within the slot upon release by the soluble pill.

In viewof the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, it is believed that a device has been provided which will accomplish all of the objects hereinabove set forth and the operation of which will readily be obvious to one skilled in the art. With the releasing means I4 of the present invention associated with the life preserver apparatus I8, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that as the apparatus comes in contact with water, the pill 98 will become dissolved and will permit upward moving of the firing pin 84 in response to pressure exerted by the coil spring 92 whereby the carbon dioxide cartridge 56 will become punctured. Thus, the carbon dioxide will flow through the inlet conduit 28 past the check valve I! into the life preserver sections I6 and I8 for inflating the same. The piston 86 forms a seal with the inner surface of the piston guide I4 to prevent the escape of gases therethrough.

The upward movement of the firing pin 84 is limited by the annular shoulder I8 in the form shown in Figure 3 but such shoulder is'not necessary to the operation of the valve inasmuch as the piston 86 seals with the inner surface of the firing pin guide I4 to prevent escape of gases therethrough, and is omitted in the form shown in Figure 9 where a modified guide 14' is shown for substitution in place of the guide I4 of Figure 3.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 15:

l. A pressure releasing valve apparatus for life preservers and inflatable apparatus comprising a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a lateral opening, a compressed gas cartridge received within said casing, firing pin means mounted on said casing and in alignment with said open end, and release means for automatically actuating said firing pin means upon contact with water, said firing pin means including a tubular guide secured to and extending from the open end of said casing, a firing pin reciprocably guided within said guide, spring means normally urging the pin towards the cartridge for puncturing the same, and said release means normally retaining the pin in retracted position, said release means including a soluble pill held by said firing pin and engageable with the free end of said guide for abutment thereagainst.

2. A pressure releasing valve apparatus for life preservers and inflatable apparatus compris ing a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a lateral opening, a compressed gas cartridge received within said casing, firing pin means mounted on said casing and in alignment with said open end, and release means for automatically actuating said firing pin means upon contact with water, said firing pin means including a tubular guide'secured to and extending from the open end of said casing, a firing pin reciprocably guided within said guide, spring means normally urging the pin towards the cartridge for puncturing the same, and said release means normally retaining the pin in retracted position, said guide having an internal angular shoulder adjacent its upper end providing a firing pin stop, and an intermediate portion of said guide having asecond annular shoulder providing a spring abutment, said release means including a soluble pill held by said firing pin and engageable with the free end of said guide for abutment thereagainst.

3. Apressure releasing valveapparatus for life preservers and inflatable apparatus comprising a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a lateral opening, a, compressed gas cartridge received within said casing, firing pin means mounted on said casing and in alignment with said open end, and release means for automatically actuating said firing pin means upon contact with water, said firing pin means including a tubular guide secured to and extending from the open end of said casing, a firing pin reciprocably guided within said guide, spring means normally urging the pin towards the cartridge for puncturing the same, and said release means normally retaining the pin in retracted position, said guide having first and second portions joined together, the lower ends of said portions having annular lips integrally formed therewith, the annular lip of said first portion providing a spring abutment, and said annular lip of said second portion providing an abutment for retaining said release means in retracted position.

4. A pressure releasing valve apparatus for life preservers and inflatable apparatus comprising a hollow elongated casing having an open end and a lateral opening, a compressed gas cartridge received within said casing, firing pin means mounted on said casing and in alignment with said open end, and release means for automatically actuating said firing pin means upon contact with water, said firing pin means including a tubular guide secured to and extending from the open end of said casing, a firing pin reciprocably guided within said guide, spring means normally urging the pin towards the cartridge for puncturing the same, and said release means normally retaining the pin in retracted position, said guide having first and second portions joined together, the lower ends of said portions having annular lips integrally formed therewith, the annular lip of said first portion providing a spring abutment, and said annular lip of said second portion providing an abutment for retaining said release means in retracted position, said release means including a soluble pill held by said firing pin and engageable with the free end of said guide for abutment thereagainst.

5. A pressure releasing valve apparatus for life preservers comprising a cylindrical casing for a compressed gas cartridge, transverse wall closing the ends of said casing, a threaded central opening in one of said transverse walls, an outlet tube in the wall of said casing adjacent said one transverse wall, a tubular guide member threadedly secured in said central threaded opening, a spring urged firing pin having a pointed end for rupturing the seal of a compressed gas cartridge, a heavy piston mounted on said firing pin adjacent its pointed end, the weight of said piston supplying sufiicient inertia to said firing pin when actuated by the spring, said tubular guide member having an intermediate shoulder forming an abutment for the firing pin urging spring, said spring being compressed against said abutment by engagement with the under side of said piston, and a lower shoulder for retaining said firing pin in its inoperative position, means engaging said lower shoulder retaining said firing pin in its inoperative position, said shoulders having aligned bores therein for receiving said firing pin.

6. A pressure releasing valve apparatus for life preservers comprising a cylindrical casing for a compressed gas cartridge, transverse walls closing the ends of said casing, a threaded central opening in one of said transverse walls, an outlet tube in the wall of said casing adjacent said one transverse wall, a tubular guide member threadedly secured in said central threaded opening, a spring urged firing pin having a pointed end for rupturing the seal of a compressed gas cartridge, a heavy piston mounted on said firing pin adjacent its pointed end, the weight of said piston supplying sufiicient inertia to said firing pin when actuated by the spring, said heavy piston engaging the inner wall of the tubular guide member and forming a seal therewith to prevent the fiow of gases through said threaded opening, said tubular guide member having an intermediate shoulder forming an abutment for the firing pin urging spring, said spring being compressed against said abutment by engagement with the underside of said piston, and a lower shoulder for retaining said firing pin in its inoperative position, means engaging said lower shoulder retaining said firing pin in its inoperative position, said shoulders having aligned bores therein for receiving said firing pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,329,990 Muller Feb. 3, 1920 1,367,225 Barker Feb. 1, 1921 2,120,248 Hinchman June 14, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,550 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1894 30,342 Great Britain Feb. 18, 1911 543,647 Germany Jan. 21, 1932 

